Young Girl Recovering From MIS-C After Contracting COVID

A mother said she felt hopeless as she watched her daughter battle an illness called multi-system inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C). Children can develop it after contracting COVID-19.

She said her little girl spent nearly two weeks in OU Children's Hospital while suffering from MIS-C.

She was recently released but has a long road to recovery.

Rili Brittain said her 6-year-old daughter, Braylee, contracted COVID-19 in mid-October. She said her symptoms were so mild, you couldn't even tell she was sick.

Brittain said Braylee was still her cheerful self. It was weeks later, she started to notice a change in her daughter.

“Her fever was over 105, so we went to Children’s, and we got admitted on that Friday, the 19,” Brittain said.

Once being admitted, Braylee's MIS-C symptoms began to increase.

“It was very traumatizing. It started with the rash and all of that on Saturday and swelling. Her blood pressure was super low. I think it got down to 40 over 22. And that's when they put us in the ICU and she had to be on oxygen,” Brittain said.

“What happens is once we see the surge in COVID cases, four to six weeks later is when we start to see MIS-C cases come through the ER (emergency room). All of that inflammation can lead to coronary artery dilation in the children obviously that's a major concern for their heart and their heart functions," said Dr. Donna Tyungu, a pediatric infectious disease specialist.  

Braylee is home now, but she's now seeing a cardiology specialist. She's going back to school for half days after the winter break.

Her mom said it could take up to three months until she's back to her playful self.

"She's not a fan and she didn't like to take medicine before, and she has to take three everyday right now. She struggles, but we're getting it done," Brittain said.